And work rate and pace (in his prime, I remember him skinning fullbacks while playing left wing for tottenham) and versatility (having played attacking midfielder, central midfielder and left winger/playmaker) I'd even argue defensive ability even though neither is particularly special in that regard. Xavi was a better passer and more creative one too (didn't he have something like 20+ assists in one season, playing from deep). Also Modric has far more longetivity than Xavi. At the age of 34 Xavi was effectively pushed out of the Barcelona squad by Rakitic (who's younger than Modric). Unlike Xavi/Iniesta, Modric didn't have an open track to one of football juggernauts. He had to earn everything one step at a time. He spent most of his physical prime in Dinamo and Tottenham.
So where is Modric rated in best CM’s of all time ?
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I think that's one of the best Modric's strengths. People seem to know that he could play in any formations and any tactics. He has experienced to play in almost every kind of football depend on their managers. Counter-attacking/defensive under Mourinho, counter-attacking/attacking/adaptative/or defensive in big games under Anchelotti or adaptable to oppositions( could be both attacking and defensive) under Zidane both legs.
In term of dominance, it's another story.
Pace isn't really a big deal for central midfielders.
In terms of work-rate, Xavi routinely covered the most(or near the most) for Barca and Spain, so he doesn't have an edge there.
And Xavi can't play in any system?All 3 are simply incredible players, but Modric versatility and adaptability are being overlooked somewhat imo. He can play pretty much anywhere -other than striker or in defence- and in any system, and still look world class. That is very rare indeed.
In that regard, he has far more than simply ball carrying over Xavi, who was more of a specialist in my view.
Consider the current hype surrounding Bellingham and the marvelling at his wide range of attributes and potential contributions. Extremely rare to see such a varied skillet at such a high level.
Whatever level he eventually reaches, he is certainly going to have to go some to be even remotely comparable to Modric, and the incredible standards of performance and achievement he has produced consistently -at the very highest levels, and Spurs!!- over many, many years.
He was the player of the tournament at the Euros in 2008 and Spain weren't suffocating teams with possession like they did later on.
Also, why are we punishing Xavi for spearheading a system that led to the most dominant NT of our time?
I find it difficult to compare with the profile of Pirlo, Kroos, Xavi, Busquets, Touré ....
There is a goal in the champions final where Modric comes in from the wing and gives the pass to Cristiano that I can't imagine Xavi doing for example.
Apart from the architects and organisers I think Iniesta was more technical but much worse in front of goal, Zidane more irregular but capable of a super performance at the key moment.
In any case for me top 3 of those I've seen.
Personally I think -and being a madridista has nothing to do with it- that Xavi is slightly overrated and Busquets or Guardiola, among others, slightly underrated.
No.
He was named best player of the tournament but he was not even the best midfielder in his own team.
Marcos Senna was.
"I had a great Euro tournament in 2008. A lot of people think I was the best player of that tournament, not just for the national team. They talk about Xavi, of course, but come on? (laughs). A Brazilian would never win the trophy for best player at a European Championship. Even some teammates often say to me: 'Sorry, Xavi is a great player, but you were the best player at that European Championship'" (laughs).
I agree with them.
Imo, the imperial Xavi happens most and foremost at Barcelona, for Spain the responsibility was way more shared.
There u go. Good examples of what sets him apart.
Huh? I dont recall 'punishing' Xavi for anything. Merely pointing out the rarity of Modrics' ability to fulfill a variety of roles and still consistently produce world class performances.
He’s one of the greatest of all time. Certainly since the 90s too.
Magic player.
Magic player.
We call Scholesy a magician, I mean what do we call this guy?
Sublime player with so much poise and balance.
Sublime player with so much poise and balance.
Before Real Madrid's league title and champ league title in 21/22, Modric was considered below Xavi.
But wow Modric just doesn't quit. He just keeps winning and even bought Croatia, a relatively unknown nation in football to Top 4 again. He's a Legend now.
He's like a three lungs park-magician.
And don't forget for Xavi and Iniesta, they also get to work with Fabregas.
Without the Fabregas' assist, Iniesta may not have scored in the final. Without the help of powerful strikers like David Villa, Torres, and for club there is Henry, Eto, Neymar, Suarez, Messi, could they win so much?
But wow Modric just doesn't quit. He just keeps winning and even bought Croatia, a relatively unknown nation in football to Top 4 again. He's a Legend now.
He's like a three lungs park-magician.
And don't forget for Xavi and Iniesta, they also get to work with Fabregas.
Without the Fabregas' assist, Iniesta may not have scored in the final. Without the help of powerful strikers like David Villa, Torres, and for club there is Henry, Eto, Neymar, Suarez, Messi, could they win so much?
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The most amazing thing for me is his level has barely dropped at 37years of age, Lewandowski is similar, some may mention Ibrahimovic....but he isnt still playing at such an age like Ronaldo and Messi, he is still playing at pretty much the same level he was five years ago......and thats what gets him amongst the greatest midfielders of all time.
As before he was 30 he was a very good player but he wouldnt in any way for me be mentioned amongst the very best. Like SPurs, he was very good, he didnt massively stick out as sublime though, think his career reall kicked off when most midfiedlers reach there peak....and he is stayed at is for around 10years
As before he was 30 he was a very good player but he wouldnt in any way for me be mentioned amongst the very best. Like SPurs, he was very good, he didnt massively stick out as sublime though, think his career reall kicked off when most midfiedlers reach there peak....and he is stayed at is for around 10years
I disagree, he was sublime for spurs and pretty much a similar player. Actually he's a bit slower now, and runs less with he ball than in early years and he's improved his shooting significantly over the years. But more or less he's the same players. Press resistant either via dribble or one-two's, agile, balanced, brilliant work rate and discipline and a serious lack of bite in the final third (never had a season with more than 10 assists in the league).
In 2007 he bossed the England midfield, in 2008 he bossed Germans in euro. It's just that he was playing for dinamo/spurs, so people were underrating him, even though he was consistently putting out great performances. I don't know if you remember, but Ferguson started talking about how great he was in 2009 (tapping up, after his first season at spurs), but Modric shut down any talk of transfer. Do you remember who his midfield partners were while at spurs? The likes of Jenas, Wilson Palacios, Huddlestone and Scott Parker. With that kind of midfield partner (and redknapp preferring 4-4-2), Modric was going toe to toe with Arsenal and City midfields. United were still beating spurs relatively easy, but Modric would always have good performances against United too.
Former poster Scholesy was right about him all the time, but was ridiculed.
I just think Modric has kept his level for this long and finally had success with the NT that people started rating him.
Adding another quality midfielder who was good on the ball and good at distribution would have really taken that midfield to new levels and not forced Giggs and Scholes to play so much in their 30s. The attack was fine, as you mentioned, and instead of Berbatov (who I really liked) they could have kept Saha another year or retained Campbell as backup. Then went for another forward in 2009 if Tevez still left for City.
L to R - Rooney-Tevez-Ronaldo / backup - Giggs-Saha-Nani
L to R - Modric-Carrick-Scholes / backup - Anderson-Fletcher-Hargreaves
Also have Park to fill LF/RF/LM/RM roles as needed especially with inevitable injuries.
That is some depth in forward and midfield options. SAF should have pushed harder for Senna in 2006 versus chasing Hargreaves endlessly over the next year.
Fine work by the both of you.
Found an article about Luka Modric which makes me want Croatia to win the World Cup now.
Source: https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2022-1...ammen-med-modric-afsloerer-vanvittig-historie
The Danish branding expert Simon Bastiansen has worked closely with world star Luka Modric, and it has been eventful.
The story of Luka Modric is quite extraordinary.
The 37-year-old national team captain began life at the center of the Croatian War of Independence, where he lost several family members.
That did not stop the little Croatian from dreaming of a great football career, and with a special talent and exceptional willpower he slowly fought his way up to football's top shelf. In 2018, it culminated when he was voted the world's best footballer.
It was around this time that the Danish branding expert Simon Bastiansen joined Modric's journey when he was hired to be responsible for all of the Croatian's commercial partnerships.
- He has just won the Ballon d'Or, and in the same season he won the cup tournament, the Champions League, came second at the World Cup with Croatia, where he was also named the tournament's best player. There is no one who stands higher at this time, says Simon Bastiansen, who is employed by the Japanese marketing and advertising agency Dentsu.
But despite the unheard of merits, it is far from the attitude of a superstar that meets the Danish branding expert.
- He is perhaps the most humble and unassuming sports star I have ever met. And I have met quite a few anyway. In that way, it was a bit of a game changer for me as well.
The ambassadorial role
For a meeting in Zagreb, where Modric and Bastiansen were supposed to get to know each other, the branding expert had brought a watch to the Croatian as an expression of interest from the well-known watch company Breitling, which wanted a greater collaboration.
But the ambassadorial role was not something that ignited a greater spark in Modric.
- It actually surprised me a little, because he sits a lot and looks at his own watch. I actually do too, so I tell him it's a nice watch, to which he politely thanks me. From here the real story begins, and it's a crazy story he tells me.
Around Modric's wrist sits a Daytona Rolex in red-gold. And although Simon Bastiansen is not a watch expert, he can quickly see that "it stinks of money". You have to fork out 40.000 EUR to become the owner of such a watch.
- It's a special watch Simon, says Modric, who doesn't quite buy into the idea of having to wear a watch from Breitling instead. And there is a very good reason for that.
The 25 watches
The expensive Rolex watch was one that Modric had given himself as a present after he was named winner of the Ballon d'Or. - I tell him that I understand him well, and that I had probably indulged myself a little in such a situation. But he is also told that the story was not quite over, says Bastiansen. Modric had not only bought the expensive watch for himself.
- He explains that he bought 25 more of these Daytona Rolex watches in red-gold for the entire Real Madrid team. But it wasn't just for the players. It was for the bus driver, it was for the doctor, it was for the physical therapist, it was for the assistant coach. It was for all of them.
Didn't just give to Real Madrid players
That fact blows Simon Bastiansen's mind a little, and the branding expert quickly praises the Croatian for the generous act. A little math also indicates that Modric spent a little over 1 million euroes on the 25 watches.
- But then Modric says again that the story is not quite finished. He tells me he does the same with the Croatian national team. So he buys 50 watches in total after he makes the same deal with the Croatian national team.
The Croatian thus sacrificed a good 2 million euroes on 50 Rolex watches to people in Real Madrid and the Croatian national team. And there was a very special reason for that.
- Without them I would never have become the world's best footballer, said Modric according to Simon Bastiansen.
Source: https://sport.tv2.dk/fodbold/2022-1...ammen-med-modric-afsloerer-vanvittig-historie
The Danish branding expert Simon Bastiansen has worked closely with world star Luka Modric, and it has been eventful.
The story of Luka Modric is quite extraordinary.
The 37-year-old national team captain began life at the center of the Croatian War of Independence, where he lost several family members.
That did not stop the little Croatian from dreaming of a great football career, and with a special talent and exceptional willpower he slowly fought his way up to football's top shelf. In 2018, it culminated when he was voted the world's best footballer.
It was around this time that the Danish branding expert Simon Bastiansen joined Modric's journey when he was hired to be responsible for all of the Croatian's commercial partnerships.
- He has just won the Ballon d'Or, and in the same season he won the cup tournament, the Champions League, came second at the World Cup with Croatia, where he was also named the tournament's best player. There is no one who stands higher at this time, says Simon Bastiansen, who is employed by the Japanese marketing and advertising agency Dentsu.
But despite the unheard of merits, it is far from the attitude of a superstar that meets the Danish branding expert.
- He is perhaps the most humble and unassuming sports star I have ever met. And I have met quite a few anyway. In that way, it was a bit of a game changer for me as well.
The ambassadorial role
For a meeting in Zagreb, where Modric and Bastiansen were supposed to get to know each other, the branding expert had brought a watch to the Croatian as an expression of interest from the well-known watch company Breitling, which wanted a greater collaboration.
But the ambassadorial role was not something that ignited a greater spark in Modric.
- It actually surprised me a little, because he sits a lot and looks at his own watch. I actually do too, so I tell him it's a nice watch, to which he politely thanks me. From here the real story begins, and it's a crazy story he tells me.
Around Modric's wrist sits a Daytona Rolex in red-gold. And although Simon Bastiansen is not a watch expert, he can quickly see that "it stinks of money". You have to fork out 40.000 EUR to become the owner of such a watch.
- It's a special watch Simon, says Modric, who doesn't quite buy into the idea of having to wear a watch from Breitling instead. And there is a very good reason for that.
The 25 watches
The expensive Rolex watch was one that Modric had given himself as a present after he was named winner of the Ballon d'Or. - I tell him that I understand him well, and that I had probably indulged myself a little in such a situation. But he is also told that the story was not quite over, says Bastiansen. Modric had not only bought the expensive watch for himself.
- He explains that he bought 25 more of these Daytona Rolex watches in red-gold for the entire Real Madrid team. But it wasn't just for the players. It was for the bus driver, it was for the doctor, it was for the physical therapist, it was for the assistant coach. It was for all of them.
Didn't just give to Real Madrid players
That fact blows Simon Bastiansen's mind a little, and the branding expert quickly praises the Croatian for the generous act. A little math also indicates that Modric spent a little over 1 million euroes on the 25 watches.
- But then Modric says again that the story is not quite finished. He tells me he does the same with the Croatian national team. So he buys 50 watches in total after he makes the same deal with the Croatian national team.
The Croatian thus sacrificed a good 2 million euroes on 50 Rolex watches to people in Real Madrid and the Croatian national team. And there was a very special reason for that.
- Without them I would never have become the world's best footballer, said Modric according to Simon Bastiansen.
I love this guy, to do what he's doing at his age is something else. GOAT.
He's class and I think he's top of the pile when it comes to Xavi and Iniesta as well.
It’s a pity that Messi’s brilliance overshadowed another magnificent performance from the wee maestro. Such a class player. An absolute joy to watch.
It’s testament to Modric and Messi that he is one of the few players who can do that.
His longevity has been outrageously ridiculous to say the least, wonder how longer will he go on.
Could he potentially be around-the-clock for 2024's euro?
Could he potentially be around-the-clock for 2024's euro?
Yeah I was thinking yesterday - he's probably the greatest all round midfielder of my lifetime.
I'm struggling to wrap my head around the fact that he's surely coming to the end of his career now. He's became a latter-day Maldini-esque figure for me, in that he's not only a true great but it's actually hard to imagine the football landscape without him at this point. Legend.
Moved up the all time midfielder list for me. Joint first with Xavi and Matthaus, as all 3 are quite different, they have to be joint
To think Mourinho brought him off the bench against us in 12/13. Embarrassment of riches.
Read Rio's quotes from today. He wanted to come in United but Gill and Fergie were reluctant because we already had Kagawa signed. Bloody hell. That hurts
No he didn't. The fact he was a bench player for Barcelona and was about to be sold till 2008 (the year Guardiola arrived) despite being already 28yo shows you he wasn't successful till Guardiola started playing his tiki taka as well as Spain NT. Before that he was talked as a flop on Barcelona and was on their transfer list. In the UCL Final in Ronaldinho's Barca, he was already 26yo and stayed on the bench all the game. He didn't played a single minute. He always has said Luis Aragonés saved his career in 2008 Euro giving him a starter spot. There, alongside Spain's golden generation that included another 6 players of Guardiola's Barca, is where he started to shine for the first time on his career. At 28yo...
Top 10 for me
For me he's the GOAT Midfielder ever alongside Zinedine Zidane.
Some people want to put him on the same level as Xavi and Iniesta because of the way Barcelona and Spain's midfield dominated the games. But in that case, people are talking about a midfield trio with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Before that neither Xavi or Iniesta dominated any game. Modric has, in a lot different teams with completely different partners and systems.
People tend to only remember Xavi and Iniesta from Guardiolas era, but don't know when Guardiola arrived Xavi was already 28yo, and that at 27yo on 2007 summer, he was about to be sold by Barca cause he just didn't performed for the team and couldn't get a spot in the starting XI (search on google 'Xavi Hernandez 2007' to see what all the media said about him that year). He was behind Van Bommel and Edmilson, not exactly great players but pretty average. Iniesta on the other hand was always dependent of playing alongside Xavi to shine. The point is easy to prove when you see his numbers with Barca before 2008 when Xavi finally got to the starting XI (pretty average), his stats going up from 2008 to 2014 with Xavi and Busquets on his side, and his stats on free fall after 2015 when he hadn't playing Xavi by his side. How Barca with him on the pitch was destroyed on 2016, 2017 and 2018 UCLs shows how he couldn't dominate anything without Xavi.
So if we're comparing them as individual players, there's no comparison really. If we're talking on Xavi and Iniesta dominance in Barca, we should compare them to Modric/Kross/Casmeiro trio in RM, not Modric alone.
Some people want to put him on the same level as Xavi and Iniesta because of the way Barcelona and Spain's midfield dominated the games. But in that case, people are talking about a midfield trio with Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets. Before that neither Xavi or Iniesta dominated any game. Modric has, in a lot different teams with completely different partners and systems.
People tend to only remember Xavi and Iniesta from Guardiolas era, but don't know when Guardiola arrived Xavi was already 28yo, and that at 27yo on 2007 summer, he was about to be sold by Barca cause he just didn't performed for the team and couldn't get a spot in the starting XI (search on google 'Xavi Hernandez 2007' to see what all the media said about him that year). He was behind Van Bommel and Edmilson, not exactly great players but pretty average. Iniesta on the other hand was always dependent of playing alongside Xavi to shine. The point is easy to prove when you see his numbers with Barca before 2008 when Xavi finally got to the starting XI (pretty average), his stats going up from 2008 to 2014 with Xavi and Busquets on his side, and his stats on free fall after 2015 when he hadn't playing Xavi by his side. How Barca with him on the pitch was destroyed on 2016, 2017 and 2018 UCLs shows how he couldn't dominate anything without Xavi.
So if we're comparing them as individual players, there's no comparison really. If we're talking on Xavi and Iniesta dominance in Barca, we should compare them to Modric/Kross/Casmeiro trio in RM, not Modric alone.
Yeah what on earth was Fergie thinking picking Kagawa over a prem proven Modric
It's easy in hindsight but you have to remember a few things to put it all in perspective.
- Bayern played UCL final 10, 12, 13 and was top 4 in Europe with Real, Barca & Inter
- Despite facing a very good Bayern Jürgen Klopps Dortmund won back to back Bundesliga 11 & 12 (domestic double) with Kagawa an undisputed star.
- 2010-2012 Kagawa scored 21 in 49 in Bundesliga. Reus scored 28 in 64. Both born 1989 being 21-23 years old, both recording 0.43 goals/game.
- 13' Dortmund reached the final of UCL narrowly losing 2-1 to Bayern. A Bayern that beat Juventus 4-0 aggregate and Barcelona 7-0 aggregate
- In the semis Dortmund beat Real Madrid 4-1. Reals Lineup that day
Ronaldo -- Higuain
------------ Özil -------
Modric ----- Khedira
------ Xabi Alonso ----
Coentrao-- Pepe -- Varane -- Ramos
--------- Lopez ---------
Real would go on to win UCL 14, 16, 17, 18 with mostly the same players.
- Notable players those years were Hummels, Piszczek, Kuba Blaszczykowski, Sahin, Reus, Götze, Kagawa, Lewandowski, Gündogan, Perisic, M Zidan.
- 2011 Sahin signed for Madrid. He flopped.
- 2011 Perisic signed for Dortmund. He flopped. He later had a stellar career at other clubs topping it off with UCL at Bayern + Silver and Bronze with Croatia.
- 2012 Modric, 26, signed for Madrid. By winter he was dubbed "Worst signing of the year in La Liga". He turned it around and is now a legend.
- 2013 Götze signed for Bayern. He flopped.
- 2014 Lewandowski signed for Bayern. He is now a legend.
- 2016 Gündogsn signed for City. He is now a legend.
- 2022 Reus is still at Dortmund. He is now a legend.
Why didn't United try to get him? He certainly is a better player than Scholes.
I thought Levi didn't want to sell to us again after Berbatov. He always tried to sell him to a foreign club.
Modric wasn't great in his first few years either. He was pretty good with Tottenham so him like Xavi and Iniesta improved as they got older. Iniesta was brilliant, he wasn't dependant on Xavi at all. He just played alongside another great player. It's like saying Scholes was dependent on Keane.
Modric started at 2018 playing in Dynamo from Zagreb, in a small league, not in Barcelona in one of their golden eras (Rijkaard's Barca) and with Barca's golden generation playing with him since young divisions, there's a big difference.
Still he was good enough to go to Tottenham from Dynamo, and after 4 years in the PL Real Madrid got him. Casually, when he arrived RM hadn't won the UCL in 10 years, and in his 2nd season there (first playing as a starter all the season) he won the UCL. Then we all know what happened, he won 4 more in the next 7 years (3 in a row) and took a B- Croatia team to 2018 WC final and 3th place in 2022 being by far the best player on his team at 37yo.
Iniesta WAS dependant on playing with Xavi. Look at his stats per season in Barca, playing with Xavi from 2008 to 2014 in chonological order:
Goals-Assists
2008-2009: 5-17
2009-2010: 1-9
2010-2011: 9-15
2011-2012: 8-12
2012-2013: 6-22
2013:2014: 3-13
With Xavi coming out from the bench
2014-2015: 3-8
Without Xavi
2015-2016: 1-4
2016-2017: 1-5
2017-2018: 2-4
2018-2019: left Barca to play in Japan at 34yo after 3 years in a row getting destroyed in the UCL.
Stats don't lie my friend.
They were dependant on each other, and Xavi without Iniesta was benched all thebtime in Barca, and the same happened with Iniesta without Xavi. Never won anything relevant as a started without playing alongside the other.
How can he make a run like this at 37?
How is he still doing it?!
Just built different.
This guy is fake, hes not human
Always looks knackered, but absolute different gravy